By Mike Rifkin
Despite their 4-12 record entering week 18, the Arizona Cardinals have been a pesky football team. The Cardinals are coming off a 35-31 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and have now beaten the top two teams in the NFC East; they also have a win over playoff-hopeful Atlanta Falcons. But there was a massive question coming into this season for the Cardinals: What was going to happen with Kyler Murray, who tore his ACL late last season after signing a five-year 230.5 million dollar contract, but with a new GM and Coach, both of whom weren’t a part of drafting Murray nobody knew what was going to happen.
Head Coach Jonathan Gannon said on a podcast that Kyler is their “franchise quarterback.” Gannon said, “You know I’m a Kyler guy now.” In seven games since his return to the lineup, the Cardinals have gone 3-4. Kyler’s numbers include a 64.7 completion percentage, 1,537 yards (219 per game), nine touchdowns, five interceptions, 211 yards rushing, and three touchdowns.
Some teams would love trading for Murray (Atlanta Falcons), and with the Cardinals right now with a top-three selection in the draft, could Gannon and company trade Murray? Well, they answered that question with that they are not. If you look around the NFC, it is not as deep as a conference as the AFC. If the Cardinals tell the truth about Murray, believing he is their franchise guy, they must build this team around him. For now, it looks like the Cards aren’t trading Murray, but who knows if they have a different card up their sleeve.
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